Literary Master 1983

Chapter 281 Reconciliation
As soon as the movie ended, Zhang Li's expression changed; she was in a hurry to go home and didn't say a word.

"Zhang Li? Zhang Li?" Yu Qie called to him from behind.

Zhang Li just kept walking briskly.

Something bad has happened!

Chen Xiaoxu was so clever; she took the initiative to ask on Zhang Li's behalf, "Yu Qie, who is the female star at the end of the movie?"

"Gong Xue," Yu Qie replied honestly.

“I know, how could I not know our double Best Actress? I mean, who exactly is she to you?” Chen Xiaoxu said.

"Comrade, comrade!" Yu Qie understood and raised his finger to swear, "I really didn't do anything, everyone can see that. The movie was filmed for several months, and apart from the first month and the last month before the release, I hardly had any private contact with him."

Chen Xiaoxu was actually cooperating with Yu Qie!

As Zhang Li listened, she quietly slowed her pace.

Chen Xiaoxu quickly pulled Zhang Li back: "Zhang Li, Yu Qie wouldn't talk nonsense. He's never confused about important matters, you should trust him!"

Then, he whispered in Zhang Li's ear, "In our crew, Yue Yun, who was originally going abroad, often comes to inquire about him after reading the novel, right? Sister You Er is the same... always mentioning him."

"It's normal for writers to be popular, don't take it too seriously."

"Last time we went back to Ancheng, my family kept mentioning Yu Qie! My mom and dad... ugh! My cousin and her child both really like Yu Qie. Many people in the Ancheng Drama Troupe also admire the great writer Yu... You saw us going and coming back together!"

Don't overthink it!

Zhang Li stopped and finally spoke, "Yu Qie, you can't have any close contact with this person anymore."

"That's absolutely not true." Yu Qie seemed to have encountered some great injustice. "I guarantee that there has never been any contact outside of work."

As he spoke, Yu Qie was also recalling: The Laoshan front? Or when we were filming the movie? Or perhaps we met on that train?
Nothing really happened.

The last time we were even slightly closer was last autumn in Shanghai, when several women took turns representing the Shanghai Film Studio to "show concern" for me. But I also spent more time with Gong Xue's younger sister.

Gong Xue sometimes brings a big watermelon from across the Huangpu River and cuts it into many slices. You can't sentence me to death just because I ate someone else's watermelon.

Yup!

Why am I panicking?
I really didn't do anything.

"—What does 'outside of work' mean?" Zhang Li asked.

Yu Qie recalled the dating routines men use to pursue women these days, listing them off one by one and denying them:

"For example, meeting up to watch a movie like we did, cycling around the mountains and rivers, just the two of us, and... and reading a script alone in a room all night..."

When Zhang Tielin wanted to pursue Gong Xue, he asked her out for a bike ride... At that time, it was a very straightforward way of pursuing her.

Zhang Li's face turned red with anger: "Locked up all night to read scripts?! Of course not! Although I may not be as good at reading as you, I know about fidelity in love."

Before Zhang Li could finish speaking, she added, "On set, I rarely talk to men, except when I have to act—which is in front of many people, in public! Why don't I talk to people in private?"

"That's because work is work, and life is life."

“If I keep talking and joking around with other men after I'm off-screen—like Ouyang Fenqiang—it's easy for people to gossip and think I have some bad intentions. Actually, I don't want to get involved in any relationships.”

Zhang Li said heavily.

Yu Qie had rarely seen Zhang Li so angry. She was like a small cat that usually let you touch its belly, but then suddenly its fur stood on end, which was quite surprising.

Yu Qie was both amused and anxious, and could only look at Chen Xiaoxu: Chen Xiaoxu, can you do something about Zhang Li?

Chen Xiaoxu quickly said, "Zhang Li, you're right! You've thought of everything—but then again, Yu Qie is about to go to such a far place, and the matter is so important, it's a national event, it'll be on the news... Yu Qie, tell me quickly what you used to do?"

Yu Qie naturally couldn't reveal the true power struggle behind it all. He combined current news with a fabricated story, half true and half false:

“We’re all here to celebrate the fifth anniversary of the friendship between China and Colombia… Nobel laureate Gabriel García Márquez…” Yu Qie gave a thumbs up and said, “He was eager to see our Eastern literature, so I went there specifically to exchange ideas and let him know that there is a group of his imitators in the East.”

"Anything else?" Chen Xiaoxu gestured for Yu Qie to say a little more.

"And... several American universities have also sent invitations, and there may also be some Chinese scholars coming."

Chen Xiaoxu immediately chimed in, "This is a matter of national importance. We can't let outsiders laugh at us. There might be reporters watching us right now, ready to write about it in the newspapers at any moment!"

"Yep!"

Upon hearing this, Zhang Li was immediately overwhelmed by the grand sense of national importance, and she couldn't afford to lose her temper. At the same time, she felt very wronged. She had initially harbored some resentment towards Yu Qie, which was understandable, but now that Chen Xiaoxu had raised her voice so dramatically, she couldn't even stay angry. She immediately thought: Why is Chen Xiaoxu also taking Yu Qie's side?!
It's bad enough that Yu Qie is such a jerk, but how could you do this to me?
Zhang Li's resentment was all transferred to Chen Xiaoxu, which was exactly what Chen Xiaoxu needed.

The three of them rode their bikes back. Before, Chen Xiaoxu would be in the back and Zhang Li would be squeezed in the front—now that the roles were reversed, it was incredibly awkward. Along the way, Zhang Li tugged at Yu Qie's clothes, while Chen Xiaoxu squatted in front of Yu Qie, the cold wind whistling into her clothes, and she still had to make room for the person behind her to sit.

As soon as she got down, Chen Xiaoxu's legs went numb, and she couldn't help but say, "This seat is really uncomfortable! Zhang Li!"

Zhang Li was still angry, but when she heard this, she chuckled and said, "Isn't that right?"

Seeing this, Yu Qie stroked his chin and said, "It's time to upgrade. This motorcycle can't carry too many people. We should buy a Stipunk to carry five, six, seven or eight people... and get a car."

Zhang Li misunderstood and got angry, saying, "You can buy a tricycle and carry ten people! As long as you can pedal it!"

------

In the evening, the group didn't eat much. Zhang Li felt "full" after only a few bites.

“You two, one is the head of the household and the other is a guest. Just call me when you’re finished eating, and I’ll wash the dishes and serve you.” Yu Qie said, “That’s not necessary. Where are you going?”

"I'm going to read some books, be more pragmatic, and improve my writing skills so I won't be left behind by society and get kicked out!"

When did Baochai become so good at teasing people?!
Zhang Li made this statement.

"boom!"

She closed the door. Zhang Li couldn't help but feel sad.

Gong Xue smiled sweetly on the big screen, and the image kept replaying in her mind, making her extremely jealous!

She had long anticipated this day would come. The crew often mentioned Yu Qie, and those consultants on the study of "Dream of the Red Chamber" took good care of Zhang Li because of Yu Qie.

The wealthy Thai businessman who came to invest also specifically said, "I only invested because of Teacher Yu." Director Wang Fulin often pulled Zhang Li aside to ask about her well-being and joked, "Your partner is our God of Wealth!"
……

The production team of "Dream of the Red Chamber" underwent years of closed-door training. It wasn't just about imitating the ancients in terms of clothing and makeup; in fact, they followed the ancients in every aspect! It's impossible not to be influenced by seeing those things every day.

Two years ago, Yu Qie visited the set of the Yuanmingyuan film, dressed in a yellow robe, and made a cameo appearance as a "non-existent emperor." As he became more and more famous, the actresses in the crew couldn't help but ask Zhang Li about this "non-existent behind-the-scenes emperor."

With only a year left of filming, everyone needs to find their own way. Most of the dozens of actresses in "Dream of the Red Chamber," after experiencing the glamour of Beijing, were reluctant to return, yet had no choice but to compromise.

Sometimes, some gossip would spill out, saying, "Sigh, I wish I were Zhang Li! Jia Baoyu is unreliable, but her partner is a dragon among men—I heard that when she was a screenwriter, she was casting a group of actors for 'Children of Heaven,' and some of them were originally going to return to the frontier, but they stayed in the big city because of a few words from him!"

Zhang Li knew all of this. It was impossible for her not to be moved at all.

But Chen Xiaoxu hasn't done it yet... Chen Xiaoxu can't do it either... Chen Xiaoxu is one thing, but what's with this Gong Xue?

Zhang Li was holding a novel and had just turned a few pages when she suddenly heard faint voices. She immediately put the book down and pressed her ear to the door to listen.

Inside the courtyard house, Yu Qie and Chen Xiaoxu's voices drifted from the darkness...

All that could be heard was Chen Xiaoxu asking, "Yu Qie, this can't be blamed on you. As a writer, you've probably received many love letters. There's nothing you can do about it... The key question is whether you did anything or not. So, did you do anything or not?"

"Now that Zhang Li is gone, tell me the truth quietly, and I promise I won't tell Zhang Li."

Chen Xiaoxu raised her voice, just enough for Zhang Li to hear.

Yu Qie shouted, "Not at all!"

"What makes you think there isn't any evidence? Everything needs to be based on evidence!" Chen Xiaoxu said angrily.

Yu Qie pondered for a moment, then began to tell a story: "One of the people who accompanied me on the visit was named Qian Zhongshu. He was originally a Christian and particularly admired people who were pure in their relationships! He greatly admired a man named Hu Shih on the other side of the strait, believing that Hu Shih was very pure in his relationships and remained faithful to his first love. Especially after reading Hu Shih's diary, he felt that this man was a truly sincere gentleman and that everyone had misunderstood him!"

Chen Xiaoxu and Zhang Li could not possibly be unaware of Hu Shih's name. Hu Shih was a leading figure in the textual research school of Redology.

Although Hu Shih was one of the founders of the "New Culture Movement", he was arranged by his mother to have a traditional marriage when he was 13 years old, and he obediently married a woman named "Jiang Dongxiu".

Rumor has it that out of filial piety, he accepted this traditional marriage, and at the wedding, he tried to reconcile the conflict by bowing instead of kneeling and other new etiquette.

Although it was an arranged marriage, the two had a harmonious marriage throughout their lives, and Jiang Dongxiu had a very strong personality and was very strict with Hu Shi.

In his later years, Hu Shih even jokingly referred to himself as a member of the "Husband-Afraid-of-Wives Association"—it was under these circumstances that Qian Zhongshu saw Hu Shih's experiences and immediately felt that he was a good man with affection and righteousness.

Most people's understanding of Hu Shih's feelings is limited to this.

Chen Xiaoxu said, "Why are you talking about yourself and bringing up others? Hu Shi was so good to his wife, he was even 'afraid' of her. Do you want to be like him?"

Yu Qie laughed loudly: "Of course I can't follow his example! In fact, Hu Shi had several extramarital affairs, but he certainly wouldn't mention them in his diary. He said he was 'afraid' of his wife because he was born in the Year of the Rabbit and his wife was born in the Year of the Tiger, and they were incompatible! Actually, he was subtly mocking his wife and implying that his own marriage was very repressed."

"You think he was afraid of his wife because he loved her? You're so wrong!" Yu Qie said. "Hu Shih even proposed a divorce, but his wife threatened to kill herself. Hu Shih was afraid of being branded as the one who drove his wife to her death, so he had no choice but to maintain a marriage of convenience. I've seen all of this in the newspapers before!"

"Qian Zhongshu only reads Hu Shi's one-sided account and his diary, and he doesn't want to look at any other materials. Of course, he thinks this person is loyal and righteous!"

Chen Xiaoxu was shocked that Hu Shih was such a person! At the same time, she was puzzled: "Why are you talking about this? What does it have to do with you and Zhang Li?"

Upon hearing this, Zhang Li couldn't help but stomp her foot: "Yeah! What does it have to do with me?"
Although Hu Shih was a hypocrite, he at least knew how to pretend to be one.

Are you implying that you're too lazy to even pretend to be something you're not?
Yu Qie said: "Hu Shi encouraged women's liberation, but in reality he harmed many women, causing his extramarital affairs with women to die alone and in tragic circumstances, thus maintaining his image as a saint—even people like Qian Zhongshu were deceived!"

Did he truly love his first wife? No, she was merely a tool for him to maintain his image. He never loved anyone; emotionally and in terms of responsibility, he only loved himself!

“I absolutely cannot be that kind of person. Up to now, I can clearly admit that I love Zhang Li.”

“If I have done anything wrong, let her kill me or torture me! Besides, I haven’t done anything wrong! I am exactly the kind of person that Qian Zhongshu admires, the kind of person that Hu Shi dreamed of becoming but dared not become and could never become, although I am not proud of it.”

Yu Qie's words were truly resounding!

Not only does it denigrate "Hu" and elevate "Yu," it also illustrates a point: since ancient times, actions have been judged, not intentions. I don't even have any "actions," so where would I get the faults?

Chen Xiaoxu was so shocked by this historic revelation that she was speechless for a long time. Then, upon hearing Yu Qie's confession, she was at a loss for words.

Then, Chen Xiaoxu said, "You should let Zhang Li hear what you said, tell Zhang Li what you said! I don't know what she thinks, but I really believe it myself!"

"I believe it now!"

Upon hearing this, Zhang Li immediately pushed open the door, hugged Yu Qie, and apologized: "You're right. People like Hu Shih love themselves more than others! Since I acted in 'Dream of the Red Chamber,' I've seen too many tragedies in it. You must never become like that!"

Yu Qie hugged Zhang Li and winked at Chen Xiaoxu.

Chen Xiaoxu had a sudden realization. She thought carefully about what Yu Qie had said, and for some reason, she felt happy.

(End of this chapter)